Celtic take on Hearts in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday looking to pick up three points and move further ahead of second-placed Rangers in the table.
A morale-boosting victory at home to Feyenoord on Wednesday night has put recent difficult form into the rearview mirror and everyone is hoping the Bhoys can now push on.
Brendan Rodgers was not on media duties ahead of Saturday’s 3pm kick-off, but assistant John Kennedy did step in and provide us with some updates on key players.
Tomoki Iwata is the only injury doubt coming out of the Champions League victory and the manager has two key players returning to contention for a place in tomorrow’s match squad.
Celtic squad boosted for Hearts match
Cameron Carter-Vickers and Daizen Maeda have been training all week with the group at Lennoxtown and Kennedy confirmed they could play against the Jam Tarts.
Carter-Vickers is perhaps the most likely starter given he has only been out of action for a week or so.
Maeda has been a longer-term absence so Rodgers may well decide to expose him to football off the bench initially, with opportunities to start against Livingston, Dundee, Rangers and St Mirren on the horizon.
There could be a chance for Paulo Bernardo to get more match action after his substitute appearance against the Dutch. Iwata hasn’t been spotted in training over the last couple of days and limped out of the mid-week clash in the first half.
Luis Palma is, thankfully, available despite being substituted off.
David Turnbull and Odin Holm are also contenders to feature if Iwata doesn’t make it, with Reo Hatate still weeks away from returning to matches.
The rest of the eleven should pick itself with Rodgers expected to go for his strongest available eleven, with a week of rest ahead of the start of the festive period next weekend.
In other news, The UEFA Champions League will now never be the same again for Celtic.
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